[Phil_S]

I've narrowed it down to 2: Nagaoka MP-200 or Hana EL...

I'm working with a Technics SL 1200 M3D w/KAB Fluid Damper, Thick Mat, Cardas Wire/KAB Block, AT VM540ML cartridge, Van Alstine Vision Q Phono.  Speakers are OHM 100 MK3 powered by a Van Alstine SET 120 control amp.  Price point not to exceed $500, FIRM. 

Thoughts?  Other Options?

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I own an MP-200 and love it. It has a warmer sound with a tonally rich and full midrange, bass is powerful and punchy.  The top end is smooth.
Fair warning, it takes 30 hours of break in to sound good.  The first 10 hours are rough.

I did a review of your Van Alstine phono preamp and the control amp for Frank.  I think that the MP-200 would be a good match for the phono pre.  I actually listened to your gear with my MP-200 and DAC.

Another one to look at is the Sumiko WellFleet at about $450.  From its description, it may have a similar sonic character to the MP-200.

[Phil_S]

Yeah I'm leaning that way as the stylas is user replaceable and I don't have to change the phono preamp. 

Thanks for the reply.

[FullRangeMan]

I would suggest a Alnico magnet cartridge,
but seems the price are too high.

[SONDEKNZ]

From the VAN ALSTINE site...

The Vision Q+ Phono Preamplifier supports both moving magnet and moving coil phono cartridges, with adjustable gain and loading for MC cartridges. It provides 40 dB gain for normal moving magnet cartridges and switchable 54 dB, 60 dB, and 66 dB gain for moving coil cartridges. The load for moving coil cartridges can be set from 30 Ω to 1 kΩ, with many settings in between. This is all done with one 10-position DIP switch per channel.

Seems like there is no reason to restrict your options to MM.

With this in mind, I recommend the DENON DL-110 run in MC mode at 1K Impedance Load...

At a typical brand-new buy price of ~$US200, we are VERY big fans!



PS: Due to an unfortunate accident, we recently had our beloved DENON DL-110 fitted with a new boron cantilever and an even smaller elliptical stylus. The little Boron DL-110 now gives our SHELTER 501/2 cartridge a run for its money. Superb!

[1965]

  I assume looking for a bit different tonal character than the 540ML?  Your 2 candidates will do that I’m fairly sure, the Nag 200 is for sure. It’s a great cart. Don’t sleep on the Denon 301MKII.  I was shocked how good it is for the money. Less than $400 on eBay from that Hong Kong guy. Tonally it’s right in the hall park as as the 200 but pulls better detail.  It stays in rotation with my Grados and Soundsmiths.

[justjed]

I'm curious, OP, have you made a decision? Audio Technica has a new MM line, and the $329USD AT-VMx745ML has a boron cantilever, and a Micro-Line stylus. Might be worth looking at.
 

[Phil_S]

Pulled the trigger on the Nag, due in later this week.  In the process of listening to a number of my "reference" recordings, especially those I haven heard in a while. This should be interesting, I'll let you know how it goes. 

[justjed]

Fingers crossed for you! I've never listened to a Nagaoka for more than a couple of minutes, so really have no idea what you'll be hearing. But, a new cart is always fun! Interested to hear your impressions.

I just got one of the new Ortofon LOMCs, the MC X30. With only about 5 hours on it, I like this one already!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The MP-200 is a very nice sounding cartridge.   I have 2.  Gave an MP-200 stylus to my son to use on the MP-150 body.  It made a nice improvement.

Let us know how you like it

It is going to sound like crap the first 10 to15 hours and settles in at about 30 hours.

[/mp]

I would suggest a Alnico magnet cartridge,
but seems the price are too high.

Why Alnico FRM?

[gene9p]

Lot's of great cartridges out there. I'm a fan of Soundsmith made locally here in NY and can be repaired, tipped, etc at Soundsmith for a very reasonable cost.  Also don't overlook the Ortofon 2m Black. I have one as a a backup. Every now and then it finds itself back on my TT. It's an excellent MM.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The OP already bought a Nagaoka MP-200

[Phil_S]

Cartridge Prep
OMG it's been four years since I replaced the stylus!  This time though I thought I’d align the new cartridge (Nagaoka MP-200 should be here Saturday) using something better than a laser printed template, Sure Stylus Force balance, and 73 year old eyeballs!  I was never quite satisfied that I punched a hole in the exact center.  I ordered a few tools and they are on their way.
I purchased a new headshell previously and successfully mounted an old AT120E.  As my eyesight is not quite what it was so I wanted to be sure I could do the job before throwing up a white flag.  It will be interesting once the new tools arrive, to see how bad my current alignment is.
Alignment
The alignment protractor and the electronic stylus force gauge arrived yesterday.  A cursory examination showed the alignment is damn close.  I already had an azimuth grid and that needed some additional adjustment.  I’ll dial in the remainder tomorrow.
Turns out that my half assed alignment was really half assed.  I had to redo EVERYTHING, including balancing the table.  Each adjustment was very small. I'm now listening to a few of my reference recordings.
New Alignment Impressions
The first being congestion in large orchestral pieces. I use the overture to the opera Die Meistersinger, recorded live that the Bayreuther Feststspiele in 1975, a Phillips recording on 5 LPs (i haven’t listened to the whole thing for more than 20 years!).  It sounds a bit clearer than I remember, more air around the notes. It's easier to distinguish the individual instrument groupingsas there’s a lot going on.  The transition to the chorus at the end of the overture stresses the midrange naturally.  It just sounds beautiful.
Next up was Janis Ian and Breaking Silence.  Just wow.  Nothing else needs to be said.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

So I take it you are liking the MP-200.  Give it about 25-30 hours of break in.  It only gets better.  It can sound pretty rough the first 10 to 15 hours.

I just went though the same thing with my new Shelter Cartridge.  High power reading glasses help my old eyes.  It took me longer to attach the cartridge to the arm then adjust the VTA and VTF as it does not have captive nuts just like the MP-200 does not.

If I ever change cartridges, the next one will have captive nuts.

The cartridge alignment tool that comes with my Pro-ject Classic Evo is very good and easy to use thankfully.  I need to get a cartridge alignment tool with a mirror to check the Azimuth though.  With the eyeball test, it looks good though.

[Phil_S]

Cartridge arrives Saturday.  Had an issue with my procurement dept, she wanted to make sure the color matched the decor!  I use my phone to take a picture of the azimuth, VTA, and alignment grids placed on a sacrificial LP.  Then I can enlarge it and adjust accordingly.

[SONDEKNZ]

A quick tip for those working with non-threaded cartridge bodies and therefore fiddling around with non-captive nuts and bolts - with sausage fingers!

I make a cone out of BLU-TAC and set the nut in the tip. It can help to put it in the fridge prior, if you are in a warmer climate, to help keep the BLU-TAC solid.

It then becomes an easy task to present the nut to the thread and get at least 1-2 turns started. Tightening is an easy task thereafter.

IMPORTANT: Before fully tightening the nuts, carefully clear away any BLU-TAC remnant from the nuts. Repeatedly dabbing the BLU-TAC on the nuts can often cause the BLU-TAC to adhere to itself and come away clean.
[BLU-TAC can suck the life out of your phono cart, if it is allowed to hang around...]

I hope this helps!

[js1955]

........ I need to get a cartridge alignment tool with a mirror to check the Azimuth though.  With the eyeball test, it looks good though.

Save your money.   You don't need an audiophile approved rip-off tool.  Any old small flat mirror works just fine.     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWeUKoQTS28&t=12s

[Charles Xavier]

I own an MP-200 and love it. It has a warmer sound with a tonally rich and full midrange, bass is powerful and punchy.  The top end is smooth.
Fair warning, it takes 30 hours of break in to sound good.  The first 10 hours are rough.

I did a review of your Van Alstine phono preamp and the control amp for Frank.  I think that the MP-200 would be a good match for the phono pre.  I actually listened to your gear with my MP-200 and DAC.

Another one to look at is the Sumiko WellFleet at about $450.  From its description, it may have a similar sonic character to the MP-200.

Just curious. You mention that you do reviews, where can I find them. Thanks

[toocool4]

Save your money.   You don't need an audiophile approved rip-off tool.  Any old small flat mirror works just fine.     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWeUKoQTS28&t=12s

This is a very simplistic view of setup, you are assuming that the cantilever, diamond tip etc have been mounted correctly. In reality,  this is never true so in that case this setup is wrong.
I use the Dr. Feicket’s Adjust+ software, with this software and test record you can dial everything in properly and you can see on screen everything that is going on.
This software is no longer made, but you can now get AnalogMajik which does the same thing and more. AnalogMajik is more sophisticated.

https://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/vinyl-lp/37-technology/161-adjust-part-i.html